From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Brooklyn is a borough of New York City.

(ScSlp: dp. 2532: l. 233'; b. 43'; dr. 16'3"; s. 11 5 k.; cpl. 335; a. 1 10" S. B., 20 9" S. B.; cl. Brooklyn)

The first Brooklyn was a wooden screw sloop launched in 1858 by Jacob A. Westervelt and Son, New York, N. Y., and commissioned 26 January 1859, Captain D. G. Farragut in command.

Brooklyn served with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron from 1861 until 1864, participating in action at Head of Passes, Mississippi River (15 February 1862); attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and in the capture of New Orleans (24 April); bombardment of Grand Gulf Miss. (26 May); attacks on the Vicksburg, Miss., batteries (28 June and 22 July); and the bombardment of Galveston, Tex. (24 February 1863). In August 1863 she departed for New York to receive needed repairs, arriving 26 August.

With repairs completed, she was recommissioned 14 April 1864 and rejoined the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She took part in the capture of Mobile, Ala., and the combined attack on Fort Morgan, Mobile Bay (9-23 August 1864). At the Battle of Mobile Bay (5 August 1864) she led the fleet toward the entrance of Mobile Bay, but her flinching at the crucial moment caused Farragut in Hartford to "Damn the torpedoes" and sail around her, himself taking the lead. Brooklyn was struck 40 times by enemy fire and suffered 11 men killed and 43 wounded during the battle. While Brooklyn was attached to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron she captured four prizes and assisted in the capture of eight others.

She served with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron from October 1864 until January 1865. During this time she participated in the attacks on Fort Fisher, N. C. (23-24 December 1864 and 13-15 January 1865).

Between 1865 and 1889 Brooklyn made four cruises in South American waters (1865-67, 1875, 1881-84, and 1885-86). She also made a cruise in European waters (1871-73); cruised on the North Atlantic Station (1874): and visited the coast of Africa (1884). Her last service was an extensive cruise to Asiatic waters during 1886-89.

Brooklyn was decommissioned at New York Navy Yard 14 May 1889 and sold 25 March 1891.